Dan Jervis-Bardy's two articles ("Border bungle shows ACT is invisible to big states" and "Vic quarantine confusion", January 5, pages 4 and 6) were spot-on about the shemozzle confronting ACT residents making a run to Victoria last weekend.
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"Help" lines in Canberra and Melbourne were totally confused, the online form did not reflect the "policy" until midnight on New Year's Day, and even then the final version of the form said any travel in NSW in the previous 14 days (even to Queanbeyan to shop, as I read it) disqualified you from completing the form (or entitled you to quarantine for 14 days on arrival in Melbourne).
In the early days of COVID-19 there was a lot of talk of computer modelling the spread of the virus. Surely it would have been possible to computer model also alternative scenarios for border control? Last weekend had the hallmarks of being made up on the run - and not made up very well either. And that is without even mentioning the cock-up on the East Gippsland border from NSW.
The modelling, if it is ever done, might calculate the marginal benefit (in terms of infections prevented) of rushing to close borders ("by 11.59 pm tomorrow") with the alternative of waiting a day or so to get the system right, for example, by designating cars with particular licence plate prefixes to present at check-points at particular times.
David Stephens, Bruce
Coronavirus blessing
Thank you COVID-19. The lack of Summernats this January is certainly not "devastating" to another tranche of "thousands of people" who live in the vicinity of EPIC where, for more than 30 years, residents have had to endure an uncomfortable and unhealthy locked-down existence for several days each mid-summer ("The oddness of summer without Summernats", canberratimes.com.au, January 6).
Retreating to shut up homes to try to reduce constant exposure day and night to extremely loud car noise and music and the strong toxic fumes that waft regularly across many suburbs also means no guests are invited round and there is no ability to enjoy the cooler outside evening air.
The lack of widespread and dangerous hooning and other antisocial behaviour that Summernats spawns for weeks before and after the event in this part of Canberra is also a welcome relief.
A private business undertaking such as Summernats does not belong anywhere near suburbia, let alone those residential areas that are undergoing rapid urban densification and will continue to do so for years to come.
Sue Dyer, Downer
Panda pandering
I could not agree more with Bill Stefaniak (Letters, December 29). We have allowed ourselves to wallow in wealth while ignoring the many ways China has infiltrated our society from top to bottom for far too long.
We have, during this process, been guided by a conga line of politicians and other leaders into a web of involvement with the Chinese Communist Party. During this time, and more recently, we have seen China takeover Tibet, killing countless Tibetans, and seen the ethnic minorities in Western China placed in "re-education" camps against their will.
The numbers of these minorities are estimated at approximately 1.5 million. Then there is the situation in Hong Kong where many brave souls are being detained or imprisoned for attempting to defend their rights. The skirmish with India and the pressure on Taiwan are just other examples of their aggression.
Add to this fact that we have been asleep at the wheel while China buys heavily into our milk industry, rural food bowl lands and gaining a long-term lease over a port in Darwin.
What are we thinking? The panda is not as cuddly as some would have us believe. Let's find other countries to take some of our good quality produce.
Gordon Scott, Deakin
Where now neo-cons?
Reflecting on the events of the past year has had me wondering about the future of right-wing economics and politics.
The Centrelink queue was a salutary reminder that without taxpayers' support, and had we continued to pursue a simplistic neoconservative market approach, all of us - including business - would really have been in a mess.
The neoconservative philosophy, a core economic belief advocating "hands off" deregulation and small government and driven by minority self-interest was found to be "unfit for purpose".
Instead, the community demanded a Keynesian economic response. "Pump priming" the economy was a necessity, ironically the very economic philosophy the Morrison conservatives have been "banging on against" for years. How wrong can you be?
So where do the neoconservatives go from here? 2021 will necessitate an economic reset, a reboot. This means developing a new and diverse mixed economy; recognising the importance of strategic thinking, science, research, technology, manufacturing and the development of skills and competencies.
It also means encouraging "value added" economic business models, balanced budgets not surpluses; balanced trade agreements not free trade, and a transition to new energy as well as assisting those communities that will be affected by the transition.
The focus in 2021 should be on meeting the needs of the Australian people rather than pandering to minority lobby groups and individuals, the party, the "Murdochracy", and the simplistic economics of the Institute of Public Affairs.
Mike Flanagan, Farrer
Better than nothing
In a piece on the weaknesses of the government's draft Commonwealth Integrity Commission legislation ("Draft commission lacks integrity", January 4, p43) Dr Colleen Lewis said "no parliamentarian genuinely concerned about accountability, transparency and openness in public life ... could vote for a CIC in anything like its current form".
I wonder if that's true. After the disastrous example of the Greens' vote against Kevin Rudd's carbon pollution reduction scheme in 2009, which more than anything else explains why Australia has no sensible climate change regime today, isn't it possible that some parliamentarians might vote for the government's CIC legislation just to get something in place, hoping to improve it with amendments in the future?
Greg Pinder, Charnwood
Start your engines
Have I missed it? Where is the usual time-wasting debate over what the date of Australia Day should be this year? It's normally full on by now.
M Moore, Belconnen
Pagans were first
Alvin Hopper has it wrong when he says that Christmas has been hijacked by the pagans (Letters, January 5). It is, in fact, the other way around.
Christmas was introduced to replace the Roman festival of Saturnalia after Emperor Constantine converted the Roman empire to Christianity in AD312. Pope Julius I then decided on December 25 being the date of Jesus' birth as it replaced the most important day of Saturnalia; the celebration of the birth of Sol Invictus ("the unconquered Sun") as part of the winter solstice.
Other Romans celebrated December 25 as the birth date of the Zoroastrian god, Mithras, who had many similarities with Sol Invictus. The Bible doesn't mention the birth date of Jesus but what references exist seem to point to him being born in spring or summer as shepherds don't watch their sheep at night in winter and the Romans never held their censuses (which Joseph and Mary were supposedly in Bethlehem for) in winter.
So, if Alvin Hopper really wants to celebrate December 25 properly he should abide by the Saturnalian customs of religious observance, gift giving (known as sigillaria), and a family banquet when Christmas falls on Saturn's day (Saturday) this year. Ah, plus a change, plus c'est la même chose ... (The more things change, the more they stay the same).
Simon Cobcroft, Lyneham
And again
Alvin Hopper is brave to assert "Christmas festivities have been largely secularised" (Letters, January 5).
The pagan winter solstice or Saturnalia was a public holiday celebrated around December 25 in the family home. This was a time for feasting, goodwill, generosity to the poor, the exchange of gifts and the decoration of trees.
This was not Christmas; this was Saturnalia. Perhaps Christmas, as we now know it and celebrate it, has returned to its true secular roots.
Judith Barnes, Watson
It's all politics
Ian Morison (Letters, January 5) talks about Labor's broken promises over the last few decades. For balance, I offer a couple of John Howard's howlers. Do we remember the "never-ever GST" ? But the one that I think is the real stinker is introducing the concept of "core promises".
Should we start listing some of Mr Abbott's beauties as well (no cuts to the ABC or SBS)? At the end of the day, let's acknowledge that circumstances change and political parties (all of them) will realign their policies.
Kim Fitzgerald, Deakin
TO THE POINT
HOLIDAY SLAUGHTER
Alvin Hooper objects to the commercialisation of the "sacred concept" of Christmas (Christmas hijacked, Letters, January 4). I object to the fact that, in the months leading up to this "religious festival", more suffering and slaughter is inflicted on domesticated animals for traditional over-consumption than at any other time of the year, without us giving it a thought, religious or otherwise.
P O'Keeffe, Hughes
TOO MUCH INFORMATION
Miley Cyrus has recently revealed sex toys play a big part in her home decorating. I am sure that at this time of the coronavirus pandemic this was a vital piece of information we all needed to hear. It must be at least as important as Dr Anthony Fauci's coronavirus updates apparently.
Rajend Naidu, Glenfield, NSW
MORE OF THE SAME
In 2020 people saw through Morrison from marketing and not enough of Albanese from the ALP. Now 2021 has dawned with precocious hot cross buns and a more contagious form of COVID-19. Tighten your seatbelts for the bumpy road ahead.
John Sandilands, Garran
BAH, HUMBUG
So "we are one and free". Humbug. Not while we have the Union Jack (aka the "butcher's apron") on the Australian flag. Not while we dance to the tune of America's war tom-toms. Not while we answer to a foreign head of state. What can I say? Up the republic, and right up the government.
Richard Ryan, Summerland Point, NSW
NOT "MARVEL-LOUS"
I've just sat through the first half of Wonder Woman 84. When I walked out it still had an hour to go. Movie reviewers, please don't talk about DC or Marvel films as if they are works of Shakespeare when they are the usual lip gloss, dribble and violence. A waste of time and money.
Gary Frances, Bexley, Vic
COLLECTIVISM TRIUMPHS
Alibaba's founder has disappeared without a trace. Is China now nationalising its billionaires?
N Ellis, Belconnen
SILENCE PLEASE
If Vince Patulny (Letters, January 5) had read my earlier letter properly he would know I acknowledged climate change (anthropogenic or otherwise) is a problem. I am not against repetition in general to drive home a point, it's just that I am tired of hearing from Dr Douglas Mackenzie almost every other day.
Bob McDonald, Weetangera
FRIENDS IN NEED
On December 6 we had the misfortune to have a large tree fall onto our house due to the high winds. The Belconnen SES team that responded did a fabulous job, working for six hours with good humour to remove the debris from our roof and to secure our house with tarps and ropes. Thank you all for your care and expertise.
Tony Henshaw, Lyneham
TIME TO CHANGE
I agree with Bill Bowron (Letters, January 6) that now is time to "update" our flag with the removal of the Union Jack. I imagine (but we should ask) First Nations people can stand under a Southern Cross flag. They have been looking at those stars a lot longer than us.